Luna
07-01-2007, 21:41
The former presenter of BBC TV's Mastermind programme, Magnus Magnusson, has died at the age of 77.
Mr Magnusson, who was born in Iceland in 1929, had been diagnosed with cancer last year.
He came to Scotland at the age of one and spent his life working as a journalist, writer and broadcaster.
Mr Magnusson, who had a wife and four children, was known for his catchphrase "I've started so I'll finish" from the long-running quiz programme.
Tremendous loss
BBC director general Mark Thompson led tributes to one of the most familiar faces on British television.
"For millions of viewers of viewers Magnus Magnusson was one of the defining faces and voices of the BBC," said Mr Thompson.
"To the contestants of Mastermind, he was a tough but always fair questionmaster, but behind this screen persona there was a family man of tremendous warmth and humanity.
"All our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time, and everyone at the BBC will share their tremendous sense of loss."
Mr Magnusson, who was born in Iceland in 1929, had been diagnosed with cancer last year.
He came to Scotland at the age of one and spent his life working as a journalist, writer and broadcaster.
Mr Magnusson, who had a wife and four children, was known for his catchphrase "I've started so I'll finish" from the long-running quiz programme.
Tremendous loss
BBC director general Mark Thompson led tributes to one of the most familiar faces on British television.
"For millions of viewers of viewers Magnus Magnusson was one of the defining faces and voices of the BBC," said Mr Thompson.
"To the contestants of Mastermind, he was a tough but always fair questionmaster, but behind this screen persona there was a family man of tremendous warmth and humanity.
"All our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time, and everyone at the BBC will share their tremendous sense of loss."